Shaming the Competition Must Be Satisfying
Acura, the other premium Japanese brand that often stands in the shadows of the more upscale Lexus and Infiniti marques, is making serious headway as of late. No, there isn't any talk of a rear-drive V8-powered luxury sedan scheduled for the near future, at least not that I've heard. Rather, the automaker still maintains its core front-wheel drive, fuel efficient ideals while pushing overall refinement beyond many of its contemporaries.
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| Acura maintains its core front-wheel drive, fuel efficient ideals while pushing overall refinement. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
I started to get intrigued about the new TL when I first drove the recently launched
TSX. Let me explain. While the previous generation midsize
Acura TL was an excellent car, with attractive if understated lines, a smooth and energetic powertrain, in Type-S trim especially, and more room inside than the majority of its competitors, it still didn't come across as a premium car. It featured too many Honda sourced interior switches and buttons, and while the fit and finish was above average the tactility of its cabin plastics and faux wood trim was nowhere near BMW or Audi levels of perceived quality.
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| The 2004 TL features one of the best laid out interiors in the business, let alone the midsize class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The TSX raised the bar so far in the compact luxury category that I just new the next-generation TL would do likewise to its midsize segment. Suffice it to say that I'm not disappointed. The 2004 TL features one of the best laid out interiors in the business, let alone the midsize class. Its not only pleasing to the eye, with one of many highlights being its recessed sculpted shoulder line that starts part way through the front door panels, seamlessly connects to the dash, and then spans one third of its width before arcing southward as it integrates with the car's superbly detailed center stack, but everything, including the power sunroof switches, are optimally placed for intuitive use.
